Self lubricating rod line guide



w. w. MOORE SELF LUBRICATING ROD LINE GUIDE 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1953 w. w. MOORE ,017,322

SELF LUBRICATING ROD LINE GUIDE Filed July 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I" l l i 14/ Moore Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,017,322 SELF LUBRICATING ROD LINE GUIDE Wesley W. Moore, Joinerville, Tex.

Application July 25, 1933, Serial No. 682,050

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in self-lubricating rod line guides. In the operation of a series of oil wells it is customary to provide a central power station which supplies the power to operate the individual pump jacks at the wells by means of a series of reciprocating rods connect-ed to said jacks or the like. Rod lines several thousand feet long are not uncommon. Such rod lines are usually supported above the ground on guides which re quire more or less frequent lubrication and this involves considerable expense for maintenance.

One object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in the guide shown in my Letters Patent No. 1,712,006, issued May '7, 1929.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a self-lubricating rod line guide having removable guide blocks mounted thereon so as to be readily replaced when worn out.

Another object of the invention is to provide positive means for lubricating the rod requiring a minimum maintenance.

An important object of the invention is to provide a self-lubricating guide including a reservoir and a removable guide block having a lubricating wick, so arranged as to keep out water, dirt and other extraneous matter and also to shed the same from the rod where it passes over the block.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a well pumping rod line supported by guides constructed in accord ance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is an isometrical View of one of the guides,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an isometrical view of the reservoir, Figure 7 is an isometrical view of the guide block,

Figure 8 is an isometrical view of the cover for the reservoir having a portion broken away, Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the guide block and its spring and wick,

Figure 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a modified form of guide,

Figure 11 is an isometrical view of the reservoir of the same,

Figure 12 is an isometrical view of the guide block for this form,

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view of another form of guide,

Figure 14 is an isometrical view of the reservoir of this form, and 10 Figure 15 is an isometrical view of the guide block of this form.

In the drawings the numeral I0 designates a box-like oil reservoir or case. This reservoir may be made of metal, or any other material suitable for the purpose, and is preferably of one piece and has an open top. While the reservoir may be supported by any suitable means, I prefer to mount ea'ch reservoir on top of a post or pipe l5 set in the ground, and to provide each reservoir with a depending pin or stem I4 on its bottom, telescoping into the upper end of the post. By this arrangement the reservoir may be easily mounted in place or removed.

The reservoir is preferably given a rectangular shape in plan and is provided with a removable guide block ll disposed transversely of the reservoir, whereby the longitudinal axis of the reservoir is substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the block. The reservoir has cut out portions at its top forming angular seats. H for receiving the overhanging ends 18 and shoulders 20 of the guide block. These ends fit snugly in the seats and may be substantially flush with the outer surface of the reservoir, 5 but preferably overhang the same, so that water, dust, grease, and other extraneous matter will drip on of and drain from the exposed ends of said block.

The guide block I I has a depending shank 19 between the shoulders 20 which engages between the side walls of the reservoir and holds the block against longitudinal displacement. This shank terminates short of the bottom of the reservoir so as to provide ample storage space thereunder 45 for the lubricant. The lubricant or oil may stand at a level above the bottom of the shank and the spaces on the side thereof provide storage.

The upper side of the guide block is provided with a longitudinal semi-circular channel 2| in 50, which the pump rod 22 reciprocates. The block has an upright central bore 23 extending therethrough to the channel, for the purpose of supplying a, lubricant to the rod. I prefer to mount in the bore of the block, a wick 24. As a precautionary means, I use a coil spring 25 to hold the wick positively in engagement with the rod 22, though the wick may have frictional engagement with the walls of the bore of the block and thereby be held in engagement with said rod. The lower end of the spring is sharpened so as to be slightly embedded in the wall of the bore of the block so as to hold the spring therein.

A cover 52 is mounted on the open top of the reservoir and has a marginal down-turned flange I3 overhanging the sides and ends of the reservoir. A hood 26, semi-circular in cross-section, extends across the cover and co-acts with the. channel in receiving the pump rod 22. This rod has a sliding fit in the channel and hood, whereby water, dirt and extraneous matter is stripped from the rod by the ends of the said channel and hood. When the cover is removed, oil can be poured into the reservoir on either side of the guide block to replenish the supply therein. In Figure 4 the oil level is shown to be around the lower portion of the block and the wick 24 immersed in the oil, whereby lubricant is supplied to the rod by capillary attraction.

Attention is called to the fact that the guide block is removable. When the channel is worn out, the block can be removed and another one inserted, instead of installing a new guide, and this makes for cheaper maintenance. Another feature of the invention is that extraneous matter, such as water, dust, grease, etc., is prevented from entering the reservoir, whereby the oil is kept clean.

It is obvious that the invention can be carried out in various ways and I have illustrated two other forms for this purpose. In Figures 10, 11 and 12, I have shown another form of the guide, which consists of a rectangular reservoir 21 having an upwardly extending exterior spout 28 on the side thereof and an outwardly extending flange 29 on the upper edges of the reservoir.

A guide block 3!, having a rectangular collar 38 positioned at its mid-portion is mounted on said reservoir so that the collar 3%} rests on the flange 29 and the lower portion of the block telescopes into the reservoir. Guide channels 32, each similar to the channel 2!, are on the top and bottom of said, block. It is pointed out that this block is reversible, that is, either end may be used to contact andsupport the rod 22. When the channel on one end of the block becomes worn, the block can be reversed and the channel on the other end'used.

The block has a central upright bore 33, similar to the bore 23, a wick 34, similar to the wick 24, and a spring 35, similar to the spring 25. The arrangement of this lubricating means is the same as for the block I I. A hollow stem 36 connected to the reservoir 27 for providing extra liquid space is for telescoping into the upper end of the posts idfor supporting the guide. A cover or plug 31 is inserted on the open end of the spout 28 to prevent water, dust, or other extra neous matter getting into the oil.

In Figures 13, 14 and 15 I have shown another form of guide, having a reservoir 38 in which is mounted a guide block 39 similar to the block I I. This block has shoulders 49 similar to shoulders 20 and a shank M similar to the shank I9, and is mounted in the reservoir 38 between a hanger 42 and the side of the reservoir. The shoulders 40 rest on a shoulder 43 on the hanger and a shoulder 44' on the side of the reservoir. The top of the block is substantially flush with the top of the reservoir.

The block has a transverse semi-circular channel &5 similar to the channel 2! on its top and corresponds with semi-circular openings 46 cut in the upper edge of the reservoir. These openings 2-6 permit the rod 22 to reciprocate there- 5 through and ride in the channel 45. The block has a central upright bore 4'! similar to the bore 23 of the block H. A wick 48 and coiled spring 49 are similar to the wick 24 and spring 25, and form lubricating means having the same 10 functions and uses.

The guide is provided with a cover 50 corresponding to the cover l2 and has a hood 5| similar to the hood 2B. This hood has a sliding fit withsaid rod 22 so as to scrape ofi water 5 and dust. The cover is provided with a marginal down-turned flange 52, which engages the sides of the reservoir to hold the samethereon. When it is desired to refill the reservoir, the cover is removed and oil is poured into the open 20 space between the hanger 42 and side of the reservoir. The reservoir is provided with a stem 53 similar to the stem M, for telescoping into the upper end of the posts l5.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen 5 that my improved guides may be manufactured very cheaply and that they are very easily installed. Moreover, each one will carry a supply of oil that will last several months, thus eliminating the necessity for employing an oiler. Fur- 0 ther, since all of the guides are self-lubricating, they do not wear out or wear the rods, due to, the negligence of an attendant. If the old guides now in use are neglected by the oiler, the wear on the rods operating under heavy loads will 5 quickly cause them to break and the loss of time repairing a rod entails stopping a pump.

The description which has been given, recites more or less detail of a particular embodiment of the invention, which is set forth as new and. 40 useful, however, I desire it understood that the invention is not limited to such exact details of construction, because it is manifest that changes and modifications may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from 45 the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. A pump rod line guide comprising, a lubricant reservoir adapted to be mounted on a post, 50 a removable guide block mounted on the reservoir for receiving a rod, a shank on the bottom of the block for holding the block against displacement in the reservoir and extending down into the liquid in the reservoir, said shank being 5 of considerably less area than the area of the reservoir to provide amplified lubricant storage space and having an upright bore therethrough, means extending through the bore of the block and shank and depending into the lubricant in 0 the reservoir for lubricating said rod, means to prevent extraneous matter entering the reservoir, and means for freeing said rod of extraneous matter.

2. A pump rod line guide comprising, a lubri- 5 cant reservoir adapted to be mounted on a post, a removable guide block mounted on the reservoir for receiving a rod, a shank on the bottom of the block for holding theblock against displacement in the reservoir and extending down 70 into the liquid in the reservoir, said shank being of considerably less area thanv the'area of the reservoir to provide amplified lubricant storage space and having, an upright bore therethrough,

a Wick extending through the. bore of the block and shank and depending into the lubricant in the reservoir for supplying lubricant to the rod on the block, and resilient means for holding the upper end of the wick in constant engagement with the rod.

3. A pump rod line comprising, a lubricant reservoir having a hollow depending shank adapted to be mounted on a post, a removable guide block for receiving a rod mounted on the reservoir, a shank on the bottom of the block for holding the block against displacement in the reservoir and extending down into the liquid in the reservoir, said shank being of considerably less area than the area of the reservoir to provide amplified lubricant storage space and having an upright bore therethrough, means extending through the bore of the shank and block and depending into the lubricant in the reservoir for lubricating said rod, and a removable flanged cover for the reservoir having a hood engaging over the rod for freeing the rod of extraneous matter.

4. A pump rod line guide comprising, a lubricant reservoir adapted to be mounted on a post, a removable guide block mounted on the reservoir for receiving a rod, a shank on the bottom of the block for holding the block against displacement in the reservoir and extending down into the liquid in the reservoir, said shank being of considerably less area than the area of the reservoir to provide amplified lubricant storage space and having an upright bore therethrough, and means extending through the bore of the block and shank and depending into the lubricant in the reservoir for lubricating said rod.

' WESLEY W. MOORE. 

